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berebo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
zeyzey_the_rogue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
snideghoul's review against another edition
2.0
I have been reading this book for 5 months. It's not easy when your heroes have hit hard times, and the hard times last for a good long 500+ pages in this book. I am going to finish and then proceed to the third book anyways, because I am stubborn. I know adversity is important and conflict is great and all, but the hope and spirit that marked the first book is just lacking here.
chrisdavis's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the first book in this series - Assassin's Apprentice - so it did not take me long to move on to the second one. Also because I found a cheap copy in a local bookstore.
The best thing about this book is that it is the ideal middle story in a trilogy. The first book was a stand alone story but it was also clearly setting up more story. When starting a middle book there is always the concern that nothing will happen--that it is just going to set up more story. Fortunately that really is not the case here. Of course, there is no satisfying conclusion, but there is a genuine story to tell here.
After the conclusion to the first book, Fitz spends some time away from Buckeep, but eventually decides to return. As much as he wants to he cannot just go to the King to accuse Prince Regal of treason--he has no evidence. The Red Ship Raiders are still attacking the Duckies but this time Verity leads a plan to attack back. We also get to see the development of the relationship between Fitz and his girl and Verity and his Queen. Fitz has a new animal companion and this friendship is well told. I am not usually a fan of humanizing animals in stories but I enjoy it here.
There is plenty of action in this book, but the main theme is definitely political intrigue. Ok, it is not quite as good as Game of Thrones in this respect, but it does have a lot going for it. Most important of all, I felt completely immersed in this world. There is a lot going on but it is completely believable and that makes a fantasy novel.
The best thing about this book is that it is the ideal middle story in a trilogy. The first book was a stand alone story but it was also clearly setting up more story. When starting a middle book there is always the concern that nothing will happen--that it is just going to set up more story. Fortunately that really is not the case here. Of course, there is no satisfying conclusion, but there is a genuine story to tell here.
After the conclusion to the first book, Fitz spends some time away from Buckeep, but eventually decides to return. As much as he wants to he cannot just go to the King to accuse Prince Regal of treason--he has no evidence. The Red Ship Raiders are still attacking the Duckies but this time Verity leads a plan to attack back. We also get to see the development of the relationship between Fitz and his girl and Verity and his Queen. Fitz has a new animal companion and this friendship is well told. I am not usually a fan of humanizing animals in stories but I enjoy it here.
There is plenty of action in this book, but the main theme is definitely political intrigue. Ok, it is not quite as good as Game of Thrones in this respect, but it does have a lot going for it. Most important of all, I felt completely immersed in this world. There is a lot going on but it is completely believable and that makes a fantasy novel.
sterrenkijker's review against another edition
5.0
this is a message to regal farseer. meet me in the pit
leaballerina's review against another edition
5.0
The characters are so real to me! Every detail in this book was interesting and important. I felt so much for the last hundred pages or so, my empathy needs a break haha! I can’t wait to get into the next one and see what happens next. I know the world is going to keep growing and changing around Fitz and I am so here for it.
darthval's review against another edition
3.0
I am FINALLY finished! This was a really long book. Not that a long book is a problem, unless it wanders into rambly sections the slow down that narrative. Unfortunately, this book seemed to do that frequently. Fortunately, the well written scenes kept me engaged through the end of the book, but I did have to take a couple of breaks along the way.
When trying the analyze the parts that I do like about this book, I first considered was it depth of plot? Then I realized, that really wasn't true, as you could see where things were heading. Depth of characters, then? Nope - in fact, I felt like most of the characters were incredibly stupid and fickle . I think I finally figured out that maybe it was depth of individual scenes. There were scenes in the book that were incredibly intense, Alas, this is a double-edged sword, as Hobb sometimes seems to get so caught up in detailed scenes as to take this reader into boredom from time to time.
I think this book probably could have been polished and trimmed to at least two-thirds of its length and been a better overall read. I still would have had the frustrations of the entirely obtuse population of this fantasy world, but at least it would have had better flow.
My last, and biggest frustration was the ending. Would we really call it an ending? It felt like Hobb got to a point and decided it was as good a place as any to pause until the next book. Since that is the third book of the trilogy, hopefully it will have a more solid resolution. I will get there eventually, but I am not in a particular rush to dive back into this writing style.
When trying the analyze the parts that I do like about this book, I first considered was it depth of plot? Then I realized, that really wasn't true, as you could see where things were heading. Depth of characters, then? Nope - in fact, I felt like most of the characters were incredibly stupid
Spoiler
- I Regal tried to kill Verity in the first book and was a total liar and deceiver, so let's just not punish him at all and continue to give him power for no reason -Spoiler
we demanded that Fitz not be killed in prison until his hearing, but we will take your word that he attacked someone with the Wit, Liar King Regal, when only your entourage was there to bear witnessSpoiler
for example, when Kettricken leads the reinforcements into battles.I think this book probably could have been polished and trimmed to at least two-thirds of its length and been a better overall read. I still would have had the frustrations of the entirely obtuse population of this fantasy world, but at least it would have had better flow.
My last, and biggest frustration was the ending. Would we really call it an ending? It felt like Hobb got to a point and decided it was as good a place as any to pause until the next book. Since that is the third book of the trilogy, hopefully it will have a more solid resolution. I will get there eventually, but I am not in a particular rush to dive back into this writing style.
anna_amo's review against another edition
4.0
Yes. loved it. I'm so impressed by how Hobb barely has any lax moments, no sections that drag, no chapters devoted to the Martells of Dorne and their second cousins twice-removed, there's hardly a word that I want to skip over.
I was almost relieved when Fitz found the simple freedom of the wolf - this whole book has been such an intense pressure on his mind.
He is a terrible assassin though. Literally the worst.
Also very sad about the lack of Verity in the second half of the book. And there can never be enough Burrich. I luf him.
I was almost relieved when Fitz found the simple freedom of the wolf - this whole book has been such an intense pressure on his mind.
He is a terrible assassin though. Literally the worst.
Also very sad about the lack of Verity in the second half of the book. And there can never be enough Burrich. I luf him.
sofresh's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.5
Assassin's Apprentice disappointed me slightly, but the sequel had everything I had been expecting! The politics, scheming and machinations were super interesting to follow. I felt misled in the first book as it was pitched as a novel about plots, courts and assassinations whereas in reality, it's a slow character driven story of Fitz growing up. The stakes were heightened in Royal Assassin and I loved seeing how Fitz moved against his enemies using his wits and skills (okay that was bad I'm sorry). Although I still think the assassin angle is a bit of a mischaracterisation, this novel has some of my favourite examples courtly intrigue and subterfuge.
Fitz' interactions with the other characters was also done a lot better in this. The antagonist, Regal, takes a bit of a backseat for the majority of the novel but Hobb builds up tension by having his impact on Fitz and his standing at Buckkeep be felt in indirect ways, giving the sense that he's two steps ahead of Fitz. Kettricken and the Fool are standout secondary characters, I knew I would love Kettricken when she was introduced at the end of the first novel and the Fool instantly lends weight to any scene he's in because you know he's going to say something important.
I'm glad the Wit is explored a lot more in the sequel and I loved the thematic underpinnings of it when it's constrasted to Fitz' main flaw - his loyalty. Hobb took a trait we would think is positive in any other character and made it a flaw. Fitz' blind loyalty to people and systems that don't have his best interests at heart is frustrating because it means that he cannot have what he truly wants. The Wit is the perfect contrast to this - the freedom and escape it brings necessitates a break with social heirarchies and expectations.
Connected to that point, Fitz and Molly's relationship is a mixed bag. Molly had more agency and character than I was expecting and the readers agree with her! She's a representation of what Fitz is sacrificing due to his loyalty. However, their moments together were extremely repetitive. They had basically the same interaction everytime.
Hobb's writing style is also on the wrong side of too-dense for me. I need a break from her writing for a hot minute but I really want to just dive into the final book!
Assassin's Apprentice disappointed me slightly, but the sequel had everything I had been expecting! The politics, scheming and machinations were super interesting to follow. I felt misled in the first book as it was pitched as a novel about plots, courts and assassinations whereas in reality, it's a slow character driven story of Fitz growing up. The stakes were heightened in Royal Assassin and I loved seeing how Fitz moved against his enemies using his wits and skills (okay that was bad I'm sorry). Although I still think the assassin angle is a bit of a mischaracterisation, this novel has some of my favourite examples courtly intrigue and subterfuge.
Fitz' interactions with the other characters was also done a lot better in this. The antagonist, Regal, takes a bit of a backseat for the majority of the novel but Hobb builds up tension by having his impact on Fitz and his standing at Buckkeep be felt in indirect ways, giving the sense that he's two steps ahead of Fitz. Kettricken and the Fool are standout secondary characters, I knew I would love Kettricken when she was introduced at the end of the first novel and the Fool instantly lends weight to any scene he's in because you know he's going to say something important.
I'm glad the Wit is explored a lot more in the sequel and I loved the thematic underpinnings of it when it's constrasted to Fitz' main flaw - his loyalty. Hobb took a trait we would think is positive in any other character and made it a flaw. Fitz' blind loyalty to people and systems that don't have his best interests at heart is frustrating because it means that he cannot have what he truly wants. The Wit is the perfect contrast to this - the freedom and escape it brings necessitates a break with social heirarchies and expectations.
Connected to that point, Fitz and Molly's relationship is a mixed bag. Molly had more agency and character than I was expecting and the readers agree with her! She's a representation of what Fitz is sacrificing due to his loyalty. However, their moments together were extremely repetitive. They had basically the same interaction everytime.
Hobb's writing style is also on the wrong side of too-dense for me. I need a break from her writing for a hot minute but I really want to just dive into the final book!
josholson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5